Out of an abundance of caution and with an emphasis on its customers' wellness and safety, HP Hood LLC is voluntarily recalling certain code dates of protein drinks from its Sacramento, CA, facility, due to the potential for premature product spoilage.

HP Hood is voluntarily recalling specific products after identifying a possible packaging defect that may result in product spoilage during transport and handling. Consumers may notice that, in some cases, the packaging is bloated and product inside may have an off taste or odor. Consumers should not use the product, since it does not meet its high quality standards.

The recalled products are limited to plastic bottles of 14 oz. and 10 oz. MUSCLE MILK® Genuine, MUSCLE MILK® Pro Series, MUSCLE MILK® 100 Calorie, with Best By dates of November 21, 2016 through May 23, 2017, with an "HS" in the code date. This recall applies only to the products listed below. The Best By and code dates are printed on the top of the lid of single serve bottles.

No confirmed reports have been received of any consumer illness nor injuries to date.

If a consumer has any of the MUSCLE MILK® products listed, they should return it to the store where they were purchased for an exchange, or call Customer Relations at 1-877-446-7635 Monday – Thursday 7:45 AM – 4:00 PM CST or Friday 7:45 AM – 2:45 PM CST.

(NewsUSA) - Sponsored News - Only nine percent of Americans are meeting their daily recommended consumption of vegetables, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This May, National Salad Month, make an extra effort to get your greens and meet the 2016 USDA Dietary Guidelines, which recommend that you consume between two and three cups of vegetables per day.

While this may sound like an impossible feat, it’s easy enough to accomplish with one simple dish, a salad. Not only can you make a dent in your daily consumption of vegetables, but you can also work your way towards achieving some of the other USDA Dietary Guidelines recommendations.

Here’s how:

Add meats such as steak or chicken and nuts such as pecans, walnuts and almonds to get a protein boost. It is recommended that an adult get anywhere from five to six-and-a-half ounces of lean and varied proteins per day.

Add fruits such as oranges or strawberries to try and hit the two cups of recommended fruit serving per day.

Crackers or quinoa can help you reach your allotment of three to four ounces of grains, half of which should be whole grains per day.

A little cheese can go a long way in helping you to meet the three recommended cups of dairy per day.

Salad dressings count towards the five to seven teaspoons of oils that you should be consuming each day and the oils in dressings, such as canola and soybean, help your body to absorb nutrients from vegetables.

First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and drizzle four pears, peeled, cored and cut into eighths, with one teaspoon of olive oil. Roast in the oven until the edges turn golden brown.

Once the pears have cooled, toss with eight cups of baby greens and your choice of salad dressings (champagne vinaigrette is one recommendation). Sprinkle half-a-cup of feta and half-a-cup of walnuts over the greens, and season with salt and pepper. Now you’re ready to start enjoying National Salad Month like a pro!

Saturday, May 14th marks the 24th anniversary of one of America’s great days of giving: the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Letter carriers walk through the community every day, often coming face to face with a sad reality for too many, hunger. So each year on the second Saturday in May, Letter Carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from our customers. These donations go directly to local food pantries to provide food to people in Sacramento who need their help.

Last year they collected over 71 million pounds of food nationally, feeding an estimated 30 million people. Over the course of its 23-year history, the drive has collected well over one billion pounds of food, thanks to a postal service universal delivery network that spans the entire nation, including Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands.

The need for food donations is great; currently 49 million Americans (one in six) are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Sixteen million are children who feel hunger's impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. And over 5 million seniors over age 60 are food insecure, with many who live on fixed incomes are often too embarrassed to ask for help.

This food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.

Participating in this year’s Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by your mail box on Saturday, May 14th and your Letter Carrier will do the rest. You are invited to join in America’s great day of giving and help fight to end hunger.

(BPT) - It helps you build muscle and tissues. You need it to make blood, antibodies and hair. It keeps you satisfied for longer so you can fight hunger pangs. Protein isn't just for athletes and bodybuilders - it's essential for everyone striving for a healthy lifestyle.

The amount of protein needed varies based on a variety of factors, such as body weight and activity level. In general, if you eat 2,000 calories each day, you should consume 5 1/2 ounces of protein daily, according to recommendations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

Protein is in every cell in the human body, so it's important to be thoughtful of your protein intake. However, that doesn't mean you're stuck eating meat, beans and peanut butter. There are many surprising sources of protein that make it easy to enhance meals and snacks.

Edamame: Tasty edamame (soybeans) are a protein-packed snack. One cup contains a whopping 22 grams of protein, plus calcium, magnesium and more. Eaten alone, it will quickly become a favorite snack. Or, add to salads or sprinkle on top of soups to up the protein ante pronto.

Spouted grain flake cereal: Loaded with 7-8 grams of important plant-based protein per 55 gram serving, Ezekiel 4:9 Flourless Sprouted Grain Flakes are sprouted to maximize nutrition and digestibility. Try original, flax+chia, raisin and almond varieties to start your day with a complete protein source containing nine essential amino acids. You can also add to yogurt or crush the flakes and use as a delicious crispy, nutty, sweet breading.

Sundried tomatoes: Add zest to pasta and chili with sweet and savory sundried tomatoes. One cup contains 8 grams of protein, so it's the perfect addition to any meal. Reach for sundried tomatoes with cheese and crackers, on sandwiches or to add amazing depth in flavor to sauces.

Chia seeds: These tiny seeds are known for their healthy omegas, but they are also an amazing source of protein. Just 2 tablespoons have 3 grams of protein. This is the perfect crunchy addition to yogurt or blended into a smoothie.

Peas: They may be small, but they are mighty in the protein department. Once cup of raw peas contains 8 grams of protein. Peas are more than just a side dish - add this great green to soup, blend to create a delectable sauce or sprinkle as a colorful garnish.

(BPT) - What does oatmeal, beans and skinless chicken have in common? They are all heart healthy foods, yet don't do a whole lot to tantalize the taste buds. Fortunately, eating for heart health doesn't mean a life sentence of bland foods or boring flavors.

By thinking beyond the oatmeal box, you can reinvent your meals while keeping heart health top of mind. This is important for everyone because heart disease - which includes stroke and other cardiovascular diseases - is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

Mindful eating is one of the best ways to maintain heart health. With these 10 heart-healthy foods, you won't mind sitting down to a wholesome meal that supports the hardest working muscle in your body.

Berries
Munch on blueberries and strawberries - your heart will thank you. By eating three or more servings of these berries a week, women can reduce their risk of heart attack by 32 percent, according the journal Circulation.

Sprouted grain English muffinsEzekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Flax English Muffins are made with heart healthy flax seeds loaded with omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. Just pop them in the toaster for a rich nutty taste that excites the taste buds! Sprouted to maximize nutrition and digestibility, each muffin provides an impressive amount of plant protein, too. Learn more at www.foodforlife.com.

Potatoes
Spuds get a bad rap for being a starch, but they actually are a positive part of a heart-healthy diet. Rich in potassium, potatoes can help lower blood pressure. Remember to avoid frying potatoes and try baking or boiling instead.

Tofu
Looking for a great meat alternative? Because tofu is made from soy protein, it is believed to help lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), making it fantastic for heart-healthy eating. Explore new recipes or use it as a substitute in current favorites.

Red wine
Say cheers to good heart health with a glass of red wine. The Mayo Clinic notes alcohol and antioxidants in red wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of the good high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and protecting against artery damage.

Spinach
Popeye was right - spinach is an amazing food that packs a heart-healthy punch. Full of vitamins, fiber and carotenoids that act as antioxidants, spinach is a mean, green superfood. Add to sandwiches, salads and smoothies regularly.

Dark chocolate
Have a sugar tooth? Indulge it while bettering your heart. A square or two of dark chocolate may be good for your heart, just make sure the bar is 70 percent cocoa or higher.

Salmon
It's easy to cut down on red meat consumption with versatile salmon. Its meaty consistency is satisfying while offering endless options for grilling, steaming or baking. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, salmon will make your heart jump with joy.

Tomatoes
Packed with lycopene, vitamin C and alpha- and beta-carotene, tomatoes are a smart addition to any heart-healthy meal. Eat them fresh or sundried to enjoy the many benefits. Plus, because they're low in calories and sugar, they make an ideal guilt-free snack.

(BPT) - You’ve probably heard the chatter around how a handful of unusual foods are must-eat nutritional powerhouses - and wondered how you’ll ever get your kids to try kale or chia seeds. But you don’t have to stress over how to incorporate the latest health food fads into your family’s diet in order to get powerful nutrition.

The truth is, those headline-grabbers aren’t the only nutritional powerhouses. Most vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, so quit worrying about how to pronounce acai or where to find seaweed in the supermarket. Instead, improve your family’s diet and save some money by growing nutrition-packed vegetables right in your own backyard. Keep these tips in mind:

Growing squash is easier than finding chia seeds. Many vegetables are easy to grow in any home environment, whether it’s a large garden plot or pots on your patio. Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, arugula and kale are full of nutrients and simple to grow, even for beginners. Transplants, like those offered by Bonnie Plants, make it even easier by helping you bypass the work of starting from seed. Plus, you’ll harvest six weeks sooner.

Healthy benefits go far beyond nutrition. Growing your own vegetables and herbs means you’ll always have a fresh supply of nutrient-rich food at home. But gardening also delivers healthful exercise, time in the fresh air, and it’s a relaxing and satisfying activity.

Gardens are good for Mother Nature. The more food you grow at home, the fewer natural resources will be needed to grow veggies in far off places and ship them to your local supermarket. Your garden is also a great opportunity to recycle household food waste as compost. Plus, when you choose Bonnie Plants in biodegradable pots, you’re saving millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. The pots decompose, add nutrients to the soil and help prevent transplant shock.

Gardening could get your kids excited about veggies - really! When kids participate in gardening, they take ownership of the plants they help grow. And with their hands in the dirt, they’re not on their cellphones or playing video games. Kids who grow veggies are much more likely to eat them, and make gardening an ongoing, healthy habit.

Save money at the supermarket. Growing your own food means you’ll spend much less money in the produce aisle. Plus, you can grow a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, even expensive, restaurant-style “foodie” greens you may not have tried otherwise.

The plant pros at Bonnie recommend these nutrient powerhouses to jumpstart your garden:

Strawberries - Just one cup of berries contains 3 grams of fiber and more than a full day’s recommended allowance of vitamin C. Phenols are potent antioxidants that work to protect the heart, fight cancer, block inflammation, and they give strawberries their red color.

Tomatoes - Tomatoes provide vitamins A, C and B, potassium and lycopene - an important phytonutrient thought to help fight various cancers and lower cholesterol.

Spinach - Spinach contains more than a dozen phytonutrients, and twice the daily recommended allowance of vitamin K. These nutrients contribute to cardiovascular and colon health, better brain function, eyesight and increased energy.

Kale - Kale contains vitamins A, C and K. A cup of cooked kale gives you more than 1,000 percent of the daily value for vitamin K. It’s also high in manganese, which promotes bone density.

Cauliflower - Low in calories and carbohydrates, cauliflower is packed with a long list of nutrients, including phytonutrients. They say cauliflower is the new kale!

For more information on growing nutritional powerhouse vegetables, visit www.bonnieplants.com. Bonnie Plants is the largest producer and supplier of vegetable and herb plants in North America. You’ll find their plants at Home Depot, Walmart, Lowes and 4,700 independent garden retailers.

(BPT) - It’s not always easy for parents to remember what it was like to be a kid. It’s hard to understand why a bug can be so fascinating, or how toy trucks or dolls can entertain one for hours. But if there’s one thing that can take you back to your childhood, it’s food.

For example, imagine a grilled cheese sandwich — how the toasted, buttery bread dissolves on your tongue, while the ooze of the cheese cools in your mouth — everything about it has the unmistakable taste of childhood.

And just like you, the grilled cheese sandwich has grown up.

New frontiers

The grilled cheese is the type of sandwich that takes you from childhood to adulthood, and it’s the type of recipe that matures as you do. Gone are the days of American cheese and floppy bread. There are so many twists on the grilled cheese that it’s easy to indulge in the ooey-gooey goodness while still working in some healthier menu items like vegetables and more sophisticated flavor profiles for your grown-up palate.

The foundation of such a sandwich begins with the right kind of bread. Ideally, it should be thick sliced, have a soft texture and a rich flavor. Bread that meets these expectations can now be conveniently found in the grocery aisle with the new Sara Lee Artesano Bread, which has the distinct golden crust and creamy character found in bread made from scratch.

With two perfect slices of bread, a whole world of grilled cheese possibilities opens up.

To better illustrate what these sandwiches might look like, here are three tips to inspire your next grilled cheese adventure:

1. The veggie-centric grilled cheese. Leafy greens pair beautifully with an earthy, salty cheese like Gruyere. These veggie-based sandwiches are about to go mainstream this year, as showcased in the Farm-to-table Grilled Cheese that features arugula alongside a broken egg yolk, adding a veggie focus to an otherwise indulgent sandwich.

2. The Hawaiian grilled cheese. To really create a luau for your taste buds, combine a sweet, buttery cheese like Havarti with a tangy barbecued meat. Further tropical flavors of the Hawaiian Islands can be found in the barbecued-pork and pineapple magic of the Aloha Pork Grilled Cheese, which mixes sweetness and spice all in one.

3. The spicy and pickled grilled cheese. It’s true, you can pickle almost anything. Onions, cabbage and other items are pure magic after the fermentation process, as showcased in the Zesty Grilled Cheese sandwich that utilizes red onion and spicy, artisan pickles. Pair this with a mild, creamy Fontina cheese to mellow out that added zing.

Some people might think eating a grilled-cheese sandwich is a nostalgic throw back to childhood. In some ways it is. But with the right kind of bread, the possibilities for a grilled cheese are truly endless. All it takes is a couple of buttered slices of Sara Lee Artesano Bread and a little imagination to turn your favorite childhood meal into a bold, culinary creation.